Giants Depth Charts: Shortstop

Shortstop is another position where the Giants are reaching the end of an era sooner than they hoped for.  Barring a very unusual turnaround, Brandon Crawford's career is rolling downhill with nothing in sight to stop it.  The only question is when do they have a replacement good enough to make them wiling to just pay off the remainder of his contract.

MLB 40 Man Roster:

Brandon Crawford
Mauricio Dubon
Donovan Solano
Abiatal Avelino

Crawford is on top of the Depth Chart for now.  I suspect he will still be on Opening Day, but don't think he's a lock to finish the 2020 season there.  My own preference would be to put Dubon at SS and then try to find an upgraded bat for 2B.  Dubon appears to have the athleticism and arm to play SS and I think his bat plays better there than 2B.  Also, it's easier to find a bat for 2B than SS.  I did not realize Solano is arb eligible until I read Maria Guardado's Inbox on sfgiants.com today.  I should have included him in the 2B depth chart.  He can fill in at SS but doesn't have the defensive chops to start there.  I don't think I can recall another player who got as deep in the doghouse over one play than Avelino when he blew through a stop sign at 3B and got thrown out at home, thereby likely costing the Giants a game.  He was sent packing the very next day and did not return, even in September.  Ouch!  He's still on the 40 man roster, though.

AAA:

Ryan Howard

Howard is Rule 5 eligible but is coming off a disappointing season and probably does not have to be protected with addition to 40-man.  Needs to bounce back bigly next season.

AA:

Brandon Van Horn

Van Horn has always been a glove-first SS and struggled to a .205 BA across 3 levels in 2019.  Pretty much an organizational player at this point.

A+:

Manuel Geraldo

I have always been just a bit irrationally exuberant about Manuel Geraldo.  I love his combination of size, wiry strength, athleticism and switch-hitting.  Unfortunately, to say his is a slow starter is a massive understatement.  2019 in SJ was no exception.  He couldn't hit his way out of a paper bag with a .194 BA in the first half, but then came alive in the second have with a very respectable .303/.332/.470 BA.  After 6 minor league seasons, I believe he is a minor league FA?  We'll see if he sticks around.

A:

Tyler Fitzgerald
Simon Whiteman

Both 2019 draftees.  Whiteman got moved off SS when Fitz showed up, so we know who's ahead on the depth chart. Does Fitz move up to SJ in 2020?

Short Season:

Marco Luciano

OK, here it is folks.  The great hope of the organization!  Luciano was generally considered to have the top tools in the 2018 July 2 international class.  So far, he's lived up to that and more.  Assigning him to the AZL for his first pro experience at age 17 was an aggressive assignment and he destroyed AZL pitching to a 1.055 OPS.  He got a late promotion to S-K where he was not spectacular but didn't really get a chance to find his footing as his season ended early with what is described as a minor leg injury.  If healthy, gotta think he starts 2020 in Augusta which will be a big challenge.  Really, if Luciano stays healthy and get anywhere near his potential, none of the other names in this depth chart mean squat.  He is the SS of the future!

Rookie AZL:

Dilan Rosario
Ghordy Santos
Edison Mora
Enoc Watts

Rosario and Santos are the names to pay attention to here.  Both are raw, high ceiling lottery tickets with big time bust potential.

DSL:

Nelson Marin
Roberto Monegro

Neither player made much of an impression in their first pro season.